AFRICA: The Nigerian military clashed with suspected Boko Haram members who attempted to seize Biu Town in northeastern state of Borno.

AMERICAS: OAS head Insulza said improving relations between the US and Cuba will take time, and both sides should be given the space to negotiate without outside interference.

ASIA: Hong Kong’s leader Leung Chun-ying warned that concessions to pro-democracy demonstrators could invite anarchy, as he laid out measures to defuse public anger.

EUROPE: A senior adviser at Europe’s highest appeals court broadly endorsed a plan by the ECB to buy unlimited quantities of a country’s bonds in the eurozone to stabilize its economy during a crisis.

MIDDLE EAST: Iranian FM Zarif said that his meeting with US Secretary Kerry was important to see if progress could be made in narrowing differences on his country’s disputed nuclear program.

TECHNOLOGY: Government sources reported that the “CyberCaliphate” hacking group that attacked a Twitter account belonging to the Pentagon was founded by a Briton who was once jailed for hacking the personal address book of Tony Blair.

TOP STORY

France: International community reacts to new issue of Charlie Hebdo.

The first issue of Charlie Hebdo since the attack was sold out across France within hours.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo in a video posted online, saying it was “vengeance” for cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

China: Hong Kong’s leader Leung Chun-ying warned that concessions to pro-democracy demonstrators could invite anarchy, as he laid out measures to defuse public anger. (NYT)

Japan: The government approved the country’s largest-ever defence budget for the next fiscal year. (AFP)

Philippines: The World Bank said the country can eliminate poverty within a generation as sustained economic growth in recent years has translated into more jobs and higher incomes. (AP)

Sri Lanka: The Marxist opposition party filed a corruption complaint against former president Rajapakse and his family and asked the anti-graft body to prevent them leaving the country. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: A senior adviser at Europe’s highest appeals court broadly endorsed a plan by the ECB to buy unlimited quantities of a country’s bonds in the eurozone to stabilize its economy during a crisis. (NYT)

Cyprus: UN envoy Espen Barth Eide said deadlocked talks to reunify the ethnically split country are “moving in the wrong direction” amid a dispute over rights to search for offshore gas. (AP)

Italy: President Napolitano resigned after almost a decade as president. (AFP)

Sweden: The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats will call a vote of no-confidence against PM Lofven after he called off snap elections due later this year (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: FM Zarif said that his meeting with US Secretary Kerry was important to see if progress could be made in narrowing differences on his country’s disputed nuclear program. (Reuters)

Israel: Vandals slashed the tires of cars in a Palestinian neighborhood of east Jerusalem in an apparent nationalist attack. (AFP)

Syria: US Secretary Kerry voiced support for a Russian effort to bring the country’s warring factions together for talks. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: Government sources reported that the “CyberCaliphate” hacking group that attacked a Twitter account belonging to the Pentagon was founded by a Briton who was once jailed for hacking the personal address book of Tony Blair. (Reuters)